Boxing legends honoured
East Rand Veterans Boxing Association (ERVBA) members reminisce about the good old days at their annual Champions' Night.
The East Rand Veterans Boxing Association held their annual Champions Night at the Primrose Bowling Club on October 8.
The members of the association meet every month at the Primrose Bowling Club.
“We have meetings every second Thursday of the month,” said the association’s public relations officer, Willie Stols.
“We usually have a guest speaker at our meetings and, afterwards, we talk about boxing with refreshments.”
Among other things, the association assists former boxers with medical, rental, electricity and funeral costs.
Stols also told the GCN that the Champions Night marked the last meeting for the year.
“This is our last meeting before our year-end function in November,” he said.
“Every year, in October, we host a Champions Night where we try and, not only remember, but also honour and recognise our home-grown champions.”
The association’s chairman, Nigel Pera, explained to all those present that the night is not only aimed at champions.
“This is a champions and challengers’ night because without the challengers or contenders there wouldn’t be champions,” he said.
“The challengers also need to be honoured, they are just as important.”
Pera also emphasised the purpose of the association.
“We are here to help former boxers who need financial and psychological assistance,” he said.
“A lot of guys need our help out there.
“However, our work requires funding and we try raise funds wherever we can.
“Our sponsors are doing a great job as well, as they put money into our account every month which goes a long way, we are eternally grateful for that.
“Raffles and auctions, we run at our monthly meetings, are another way of raising funds.”
Pera went on to introduce the night’s guest speaker.
“It gives me great pleasure to introduce Chris van Heerden, IBO welterweight world champion competing in the United States of America,” he said.
“I am honoured to be in the midst of legends, most of whom I looked up to as a child,” said van Heerden.
“You guys have been a true inspiration to us youngsters, we look up to you.
“I started my professional boxing career in 2006 and have been going hard at it ever since.
“I moved to and started competing in America in 2013 and although I compete there I am proudly South African.
“As South Africans, we have what it takes to fight world champions and even become world champions and raise the South African flag up high.”
“It gives us great pleasure to host this evening, we try and promote the memories of South African champions, challengers and contenders,” added Pera.
“We won’t allow such memories to die but rather keep them as they are of the sport we all love.”
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